Working with network files when you are offline

If you work with files on a network, you can make the files available offline so you can access them even when your computer is not connected to the network. This is especially useful if you use a laptop to connect to a workplace network.

When you make a file available offline, Windows creates a copy of the file on your computer. This is called an offline file. The next time you disconnect from the network, you'll still be able to open, modify, and save the file the same way you would if you were still connected. And when you do connect to the network again, Windows will automatically sync the offline file on your computer with the corresponding file on the network.

Sometimes you might want to work with the offline versions of files even though you are connected to the network. This is useful if your network connection is slow or having problems.

Open the network folder that contains the files you have made available offline. Then, on the toolbar, click Work offline. (This button appears only if you have already made the folder available offline.)

When you are finished working with the files offline, click Work online on the toolbar. This will sync any changes you have made offline with the files on the network.

If you're not sure whether you're working with the offline version of a file or with the online version, do the following:

Open the network folder that contains the file.

Click the file. If you see the Work offline option in the toolbar, then you are currently working online and double-clicking the file will open the online version. If you see the Work online option in the toolbar, then you are currently working offline and double-clicking the file will open the offline version.

Windows syncs your offline files for you automatically so that when a network file is changed, the offline copy stored on your computer is also updated, and vice versa. But sometimes you might want to sync your offline files right away to be sure you have the latest versions of files stored on the network. You can use Sync Center to do this. For more information about Sync Center, see What is Sync Center?

Open Sync Center by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type Sync Center, and then, in the list of results, click Sync Center.

You can access files stored in a network folder even when that network folder is unavailable. You can do this by making the folder available offline. When you make a network folder available offline, Windows copies all the files from that folder to your computer. These copies of network files that are stored on your computer are called offline files. Windows automatically uses your offline files any time the network files are not available. This way you can keep working on the network files without interruption, even if you lose your connection to the network folder. When you connect to the network folder again, Windows will automatically sync the files on your computer with the files in the network folder.

Enable offline files if you want to work with files that are in a network folder. A copy of the file on your hard drive will be synchronized with the network copy as soon as you are back at work or you regain your network connection.

Open Offline Files by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Network and Internet, and then clicking Offline Files.

Sometimes you might want to work with the offline files stored on your computer rather than the files stored on the network. This can be a good idea if you have a slow network connection, for example.

Open the network folder that contains the files you have made available offline, and then, on the toolbar, click Work offline. This button appears only if you have already made this folder available offline.

When you are finished working with the files offline and want to begin working with the files in the network folder again, click Work online on the toolbar. This will sync any changes you have made offline with the files on the network.

Offline files turn on automatically if you lose your network connection. A copy of your file is copied to your computer, and once your network connection is re-established, the two copies will be synchronized. To find out if you're working offline, do the following.

Open the network folder that contains the file you are working on.

Check the Details pane at the bottom of the window for the status. If the status is offline, you are working with a copy of the file on your computer. If the status in online, you are working with the file on the network.

Windows syncs your offline files for you automatically, so that when a network file is changed, the offline copy stored on your computer is also updated, and vice versa. But Windows does not sync your files continuously. Sometimes it is helpful to sync your offline files right away, such as if you are about to disconnect from a network and want to be sure you have the latest versions of files stored on the network.

Open Sync Center by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, and then clicking Sync Center.

Click the Offline Files sync partnership, and then, on the toolbar, click Sync.

Tip

If you only want to sync the contents of a specific folder, open the folder that contains the files that you want to sync, and then, on the toolbar, click Sync. To sync an individual file, right-click the file, and then click Sync.